WHERE DO ALL THE JEALS COME FROM?

I have been researching my JEAL ancestry for almost 10 years, commencing about a year before my father, Leslie Creswell James Jeal, died, in January 1989.

I have only traced my line back to the early 19C, but have records for many hundreds of Jeals, which I'm willing to search, in return for Jeal info from others. What is clear is that all (at least 95%) of this surname lived in the English home counties, mainly in East Surrey (Caterham area), West Kent (Orpington area), and Sussex (Horley area), as far back as the 1500s. I even have one or two records from earlier times.

Intriguingly, today, more than 90% of Jeals still reside within the area bounded by the Thames and the southern semi-circle of the M25, although there has been something of a diaspora in the last century, probably because of improvements in transport. I discovered this by conducting a telephone directory survey, so must have missed a few ex-directory skulkers.

I am expecting, eventually, to find that my line goes back to Caterham and/or Nutfield in Surrey, or quite near.

There is some notion of Jeal being an Irish name, but I am not convinced, although there is a Mount Geal in County Gelmoy, Ireland. If true, though, the name may mean "white".

On the other hand, an eminent genealogist states that Jeal is derived from the Anglo-Saxon "gelos", meaning wrathful or jealous. Bearing in mind that there are only four or five meanings for surnames, I am inclined to this view. Of course, such a personality trait would likely be more or less pronounced, depending on the personality of a particular Jeal's spouse. Thank The Lord for that!

My 16C Jeals actually spelt their names as Jeale or Geale, though the final 'e' was dropped within the next 100 years or so. There are also a few variants like Gealle and Geall, and a Lieutenant Geall served under Nelson at Trafalgar.

I have received letters from/concerning Jeals in Australia, Canada and South Africa, including a millionaire recluse who lived in squallor but who had been a financial advisor to statesmen, including Margaret Thatcher.

You may also have heard of Tim Jeal, the author, who wrote, among many books, biographies of Livingstone and Baden-Powell, and the novel 'Till The Colours Fade'. I do not know how closely related we are, and have not contacted him.

Of course, the Jeals did not reach the 21C alone; I am also researching BRODIE, LAWRENCE, WELLAND, SCHEURER, TAGG, WARINGTON and WING.

Your Jeals

I have been researching my Jeal family for the lesser time of 9 months, Appaling compared to you, but nevertheless, I have a fair amount to conclude that what you say is pretty true.

My Jeals are however out of this area!!

They are from Slinfold. A little parish of St. Mary near Horsham in West Sussex.

There are strong links within to the families of Voice and Gravett.

The Gravetts were originally manifest in Chiddingfold, Surrey, and the Voices were a Horsham Choir!!(but alas not literally)

My family emerges from Slinfold into Billingshurat and even later into Rickmansworth, wherever that is.

In also am in possesion of letters from a James Jeal who went to Australia in the mid 1800's and from his brother who escaped the bonds of Bakery Boy, to join the Army in Canada and then marry a 'Black' native!!

I would dearly love to hear from anyone with a wealth of knowledge on the Jeal name and indeed any memeber of the family, we have to come from somewhere.

I am glad your post is this millenium, so heres hoping you haven't hopped email addresses.

2. Wm Jeal, my g-gfather, m.09/06/1867 at Marylebone to Louisa Eaton Warington. I am not certain that he was the Wm James Jeal, b.24/07/1842 at Epsom, though my father spoke of Epsom connections, and was named Leslie Creswell JAMES Jeal. This Wm was also a cab proprietor.

3. Wm Jeal, my g-g-gfather, b.c.1800, was a stone mason.

Please keep in touch, for we may be able to help each other. My wife and I will be in Spain from New Year till 1 May but I hope to be able to use the 'web' while there.